Chrysanthemum plant named ‘PPP SON 07’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Chrysanthemum  plant cultivar is disclosed, characterized by large decorative type inflorescences, consistent flowering response to short days, blooming consistently after 49 days of short day length, pink inflorescences with a dark red-purple center, free branching habit, and a consistent natural season flowering habit during the second week of September.

Latin name of the genus and species: Chrysanthemum morifolium.

Variety denomination: ‘PPP SON 07’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar ‘PPP SON 07’ is a product of a cross between the maleparent ‘GEDI TWO CAS’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,428) and the female parent‘GEDI ONE NOV’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,796). The new cultivar wasdiscovered and selected by Dirk Pieters in September of 2002 inOostnieuwkerke, Belgium.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘PPP SON 07’ by terminalcuttings was performed in Oostnieuwkerke, Belgium and Oxnard,California, and has shown that the unique features of this new cultivarare stable and reproduced true to type on successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘PPP SON 07’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘PPP SON 07.’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘PPP SON 07’ as a new and distinct Chrysanthemumcultivar:

-   -   1. Pink, decorative-type inflorescences with dark red-purple        center;    -   2. Free branching habit;    -   3. Consistent natural season flowering habit during the second        week of September; and    -   4. Consistent flowering response to short days, blooming        consistently after 49 days of short day length.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘PPP SON 07’ are similar to plants of themale parent variety, ‘GEDI TWO CAS’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however plants of the new cultivar ‘PPP SON 07’ aretaller and wider. Also, the female parent ‘GEDI TWO CAS’ has moreinflorescences per lateral branch and a larger inflorescence diameter.Additionally, the ray florets of ‘PPP SON 07’ are a different color thanthe male parent. Finally, ‘PPP SON 07’ has a different inflorescencetype than the male parent ‘GEDI TWO CAS’ and has longer inflorescencelongevity.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘PPP SON 07’ are similar to plants of thefemale parent variety, ‘GEDI ONE NOV’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however plants of the new cultivar ‘PPP SON 07’ aresmaller in both height and plant spread. Also, the new cultivar ‘PPP SON07’ has a smaller inflorescence diameter and longer inflorescencelongevity. Finally, ‘PPP SON 07’ has different color ray florets thanthe female parent.

In comparison to the commercially available variety ‘GEDI TWO KIS’ (U.S.Plant Pat. No.14,996), ‘PPP SON 07’ is smaller in both height and plantspread. Additionally, the comparable variety ‘GEDI TWO KIS’ has moreinflorescences per lateral branch than the new variety ‘PPP SON 07’though the new variety ‘PPP SON 07’ has more ray florets perinflorescence. Further, the inflorescences of the new variety ‘PPP SON07’ are a light pink with a darker pink center compared to thesingle-toned light coral inflorescences of the comparable variety.Finally, the new variety ‘PPP SON 07’ has longer inflorescencelongevity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates in full color a typical plant of‘PPP SON 07’ grown in a 2 gallon container. One cutting was used in thepot, planted mid May and grown under outdoor field conditions. Thecolors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a colorrepresentation of this type.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘PPP SON 07’ plants grown in Oxnard, VenturaCounty, Calif., during the months of May through October 2006. Thegrowing temperature ranged from 12° C. to 15° C. at night to 12° C. to20° C. during the day. Measurements and numerical values representaverages of typical flowering types.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum morifolium ‘PPP SON 07.’-   Commercial classification: Garden-type Chrysanthemum.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to rooting: 7 to 14 days at approximately 21°C.-   Root description: Fine, fibrous.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Mounding herbaceous perennial.-   Height: Approximately 26 cm.-   Plant spread: Approximately 42 cm.-   Growth rate: Moderate.-   Branching characteristics: Free Branching.-   Length of lateral branches: Approximately 18 cm.-   Number of Leaves per lateral branch: Approximately 28.-   Age of plant described: Approximately 141 days.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate single.        -   Average length.—Approximately 2.5 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 1.7 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Attachment.—Stalked.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Texture of top surface.—Lightly pubescent.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Lightly pubescent.        -   Leaf internode length.—Approximately 1.2 cm.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near Green 137A. Young            foliage under side: Near Green 137D. Mature foliage upper            side: Near Green 137A. Mature foliage under side: Near Green            137D.        -   Venation.—Type: Palmately net. Venation color upper side:            Near Green 138C. Venation color under side: Near Green 138C.-   Petiole:    -   -   Average length.—Approximately 0.75 cm.        -   Color.—Near Green 138C.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.3 cm.

BLOOM

-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Flowering habit.—Induced by darkness period greater than            13.5 hours, approximately 49 days of appropriate day length            required to induce and develop blooms.        -   Inflorescence form.—Decorative.        -   Natural flowering season.—Approximately the second week in            September.        -   Number of inflorescences per lateral branch.—Approximately            9.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—Approximately 4.2 cm.        -   Inflorescence depth.—Approximately 1.5 cm.        -   Inflorescence longevity on plant.—Approximately 28 to 31            days.        -   Persistence.—Persistent.-   Ray florets:    -   -   Appearance.—Matte.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Average number of ray florets per inflorescence.—241.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Aspect.—Flat.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Length.—Approximately 2.3 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.6 cm.        -   Color.—Upper surface at first opening: Near Greyed-Red 182D.            Upper surface at maturity: Near Red-Purple 62D. Upper            surface at fading: Near Red-Purple 62D. Under surface at            first opening: Near Red-Purple 59C. Under surface at            maturity: Near Red-Purple 62D with shades of near Red-Purple            59D. Under surface at fading: Near Red-Purple 62D. Center            ray florets: Near Red-Purple 64A throughout maturity.-   Disc florets:    -   -   Appearance.—Shiny.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Average number of florets per disc.—Approximately 11.        -   Shape.—Cylindric.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Average length.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 0.1 cm.        -   Color.—At first opening: Near Yellow 13B. At maturity: Near            Yellow 13A. At fading: Near Yellow 13A.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—At terminal end (shortest): Approximately 4 cm. At            lateral end (longest): Approximately 9 cm.        -   Angle to stem.—Acute.        -   Strength.—Moderate.        -   Color.—Near Green 138B.        -   Habit.—Upright.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Surface texture.—Lightly pubescent.-   Inflorescence bud:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 1.2 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.8 cm.        -   Form.—Globular.        -   Color.—Near Red-Purple 59C.-   Involucral bracts (phyllaries):    -   -   Appearance.—Matte.        -   Texture.—Lightly pubescent.        -   Number.—Approximately 25.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Length.—Approximately 0.5 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Color.—Upper side: Near Green 137A. Under side: Near Green            137B.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Ray florets:    -   -   Number of pistils per floret.—1.        -   Stigma shape.—2 branched.        -   Stigma color.—Near Yellow 5A.        -   Style color.—Near Green-Yellow 1C.        -   Style length.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Stamens.—Absent.-   Disc florets:    -   -   Number of pistils per floret.—1.        -   Stigma shape.—Cylindric.        -   Stigma color.—Near Yellow 13A.        -   Style length.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Style color.—Near Green-Yellow 1D.        -   Number of stamens per floret.—Approximately 5.        -   Anther shape.—Tubular.        -   Anther color.—Near Yellow 13B.        -   Pollen color.—No pollen detected.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    diseases or pests has been observed in this variety.-   Drought tolerance/cold tolerance: Flowering plants are hardy to low    temperatures about −2° C. Non-flowering plants are hardy in the    approximate range of 3° C. to −6° C., depending upon duration of    cold and amount of moisture in the soil. With adequate water plants    are hardy to a high temperature of 45° C.-   Fruit/seed production: Commercially, this plant is not used or    observed in a stage where seeds would be produced. Therefore, seed    production has not been observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘PPP SON 07’ as herein illustrated and described.